Barbara A. McKinzie Installed as International President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
Barbara McKinzie
New president to preside over AKA's Centennial Celebration
Barbara McKinzie
Barbara A. McKinzie became international president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority on July 15, 2006, during AKA's international convention in Detroit, MI.
McKinzie will serve a four-year term (2006-2010) and be AKA's leadership face during its 2008 Centennial Celebration.
In her installation address, McKinzie outlined her programmatic goals and reflected on the journey that brought her to the pinnacle of leadership.
She hailed her historic administration as "...the dawn of a journey of the second century that will record unseen, unimaginable and unbelievable aspects of sisterhood and service.
The ultimate award and tribute, McKinzie said, is being overwhelmingly elected president and given the chance to serve the Sorority at the highest level of leadership.
McKinzie is a nationally-acclaimed CPA who has gained recognition for restoring financial credibility to governmental agencies through her financial savvy. She is currently Deputy Director of Finance and Administration for Chicago's Neighborhood Housing Services. She was previously Comptroller for the Chicago Housing Authority, the third largest public housing system in the U.S.
She rose through Sorority ranks to become chapter president, international treasurer, vice president and, now, president. She also previously served as chief operating officer and owns the distinction of being the first to serve as the Sorority's COO and international president.
In addition to her 33 years of service to Alpha Kappa Alpha, the Oklahoma native has served on the boards of a host of organizations and is a current board member of Africare. Driven by an ardent commitment to cultivating young people for future leadership, she devotes much of her time to mentoring youth and crafting programs aimed at developing their potential.
McKinzie holds an MBA from Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management and graduated cum laude from East Central University, where she received the school's "Outstanding Graduate" Award.
She resides in Olympia Fields, Illinois.
Founded in 1908, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. is the oldest and largest of its kind and hailed as "America's premiere Greek-lettered organization for Black women." Its membership includes high-profile women from all walks of life and disciplines, including astronaut-physician Dr. Mae Jemison, poet Maya Angelou, actress Phylicia Rashad, entertainer Gladys Knight, entrepreneur Suzanne de Passe and political leaders Reps. Eddie Bernice Johnson, Sheila Jackson Lee, Juanita Millender-McDonald and Diane Watson.